Getting a colt cut at home?

[Mariposa]

After a little advice/opinions..

I'm looking to get our colt, Cardinal, cut. Ideally I'd prefer to just get it done at home whilst it's cold and there aren't any flies, we have a spare stable that can be scrubbed down and cleaned and he can go out in the school to make sure the swelling goes down.

However, I've had advice that I should send him off to get it down under a GA at hospital.

I'd prefer, of course, to save money ( as the filly's hernia op was quite evil to the old credit card!!) and not have him sent off unless it's really necessary, so just wondered what other people have done with their colts. He is coming up 7 months and starting to be pretty cheeky with his mother and the other girls...

Thanks in advance!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

Mine was done as a 2yo (pony) at home one Feb. My vets wanted him in as well and there are valid reasons for it but I was prepared to take the risk (I also spent years in Newmarket watching three standing castrations a day and nursing them. I do think that a teaching hospital should be able to perform a standing castrate imo) and had good facilities. We did knock him down in the school and he was tubed. He went straight out in a paddock next to his pal and was fine.

 

[Char0901]

My boy was gelded at 8 months old, he was already weaned. Vet came out to us, did the castration standing in his stable and that was that. There was never even a mention of him going into hospital and having a GA.
Thinking about it, it was actually about this time of year two years ago.

 

[madlady]

There shouldn't be any reason why he can't be done standing at home.

Our boy had to go in but that was because he was 5 so there were increased risks.

 

[Mariposa]

Thanks all - you replies are very helpful.

I don't see why it can't be done at home, and your experiences back that up for me!

 

[ycbm]

I've had a yearling and four year old done at home. Some vets are just looking for every possible excuse to use their hospitals these days. I have moved to a vet practice that does not own a hospital, and it's just amazing how many things can be done at home!

Since when was a general anaesthetic safer than a standing castration? For the vet, maybe, but the horse has a significant risk of dying or crippling itself in the recovery room!

 

[Clodagh]

I did take Piper in, but only because they had a special castration day, it was all standing castrations, sedation only.

 

[thewonderhorse]

All of the colts at the college I went to were cut, sedated, with no issues and then out in a paddock. Unless there was a medical reason for a GA eg; a retained testicle, id go for sedation and done at home.

 

[Asha]

I had my boy done at home, think it was around this time of year. No problem at all. I still remember the sound of the crunch��. No ill effects whatsoever for him.

 

[twiggy2]

my vet will do anything standing as long as both testicles are there and you can get a head collar on it, he does them at home and on the lorry at the surgery.
He does lots of castrations for the 'travelling community' and a lot of those are older used stallions that have hardly been handled, they dont come off the lorry or out of the trailer he sedates in there and does the deed they then just have to stay put till they are ready to travel.

 

[PorkChop]

I have always had mine done at home, both in the stable and in the field, standing sedation.

Much less stressful for them, and this time of year is ideal to do it

 

[Dry Rot]

Never heard of them being done under GA, but then we are an uncivilsed lot this far north! All mine done standing and all done outside which is apparently cleaner than in a stable. We would not get a gelding done when (a) there are flies about or, (b) there is the possibility of a frost. Never had a problem. If my vet insisted on doing it in the surgery under GA, I'd be looking for another vet -- or a convincing explanation.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

After a little advice/opinions..

I'm looking to get our colt, Cardinal, cut. Ideally I'd prefer to just get it done at home whilst it's cold and there aren't any flies, we have a spare stable that can be scrubbed down and cleaned and he can go out in the school to make sure the swelling goes down.

However, I've had advice that I should send him off to get it down under a GA at hospital.

I'd prefer, of course, to save money ( as the filly's hernia op was quite evil to the old credit card!!) and not have him sent off unless it's really necessary, so just wondered what other people have done with their colts. He is coming up 7 months and starting to be pretty cheeky with his mother and the other girls...

Thanks in advance!

My boy was cut at home as a two year old, it was as smooth as pie with absolutely no issues, and if the need arise again I would do it the same way

 

[Mariposa]

All very helpful advice - thanks all.

I'm going to push to get it done at home in the next week, while the cold weather stays around. There's no clinical reason for him to go to hospital that I can see.

Poor Cardinal, he's not going to be a happy chappy....

 

[MissTyc]

Done all of mine at home, either standing or down on ground. Never had a problem!

 

[popsdosh]

All very helpful advice - thanks all.

I'm going to push to get it done at home in the next week, while the cold weather stays around. There's no clinical reason for him to go to hospital that I can see.

Poor Cardinal, he's not going to be a happy chappy....

Wait till it warms up a bit you should not do it whilst theres frost about!!! Its not the warmth thats the issue its whether there are flies about and even if it a little warmer there wont be flies for a while.

Oh and make sure the vet checks everything out first before they start as I once saw a very experienced horse vet who did articles for this very magazine have to rush a £250 K colt into the surgery because it had a hernia. His comment as he rushed by was if it was one of my junior vets I would be firing them! However thats very rare

 

[Casey76]

Mine was done flat out in the field in April time.

 

[Alec Swan]

Considering the possible problems with flies, and I questioned my vet in July, his response was "How do you suppose that they manage in hot countries where flies are a summer thing?". Mine have always been done 'Out' and whilst laid flat on the floor. I've also seen them done standing and 'In', but in a peaceful and calm environment without external distractions. Given the choice, I'd probably go for standing, but each competent vet will have their own preferred method, and I feel that they should be listened to.

Alec.

 

[JillA]

Wait till it warms up a bit you should not do it whilst theres frost about!!! Its not the warmth thats the issue its whether there are flies about and even if it a little warmer there wont be flies for a while.

A good horse vet told me a few years ago he never understood why we all get so hung up on flies - the best fly switch in the world is just cm away from the wound site. Add to that the fact there is much less risk of swelling and infection if they can live out, and if they do need to be anaesthetised (as opposed to sedation and a local if he is done standing) again it is far safer outdoors, and I would be leaving it until early spring, as soon as the ground has dried up. Unless that is he has become coltish and getting difficult to handle? I take it you have checked that both testes have dropped?

 

[Mariposa]

Unless that is he has become coltish and getting difficult to handle? I take it you have checked that both testes have dropped?

Yes, both have dropped and the only reason we're getting him cut now is that he's becoming increasingly coltish. Not horrible or naughty, but certainly starting to be a little too interested in the girls. Noodle, the other broodmare clouted him last week as he was trying to jump on her, and I don't want him seriously hurt, that would be just awful.

I had very much hoped to leave him entire for another few months, but I don't think it's fair on him ( or the long suffering girls) to leave him when he's getting ideas!

 

[EQUIDAE]

Mine were cut at home with minimal bleeding despite one being over 2. I'd advise doing it then turning out 24/7 as the swelling gets pretty bad if you dont. 24 hours in then mine were turned out without issue. One got let out by walkers and I kept him in again overnight to check he was OK and the swelling the next day was bad - turnout really does help

 

[Mariposa]

Thanks - helpful advice re the swelling! We were planning on keeping him in overnight, snd then turn out in the school next day and as long as everything's ok he'll go back out with the others. Ours are still coming in overnight so we'll be able to keep an eye on him.

 

[Alec Swan]

Mariposa, personally I wouldn't have him in on the first night, or any night until the swelling goes down. I understand that he's making a nuisance of himself, and he must now be coming up to 12 months old. Have they not been weaned yet? If he's still on his mare, how will he cope with being separated and put in to a school?

I'm reading between the lines and may well have it arse about face, but if the foals are still on their mares, then I suspect that I'd wean them (or at least him) first, and I certainly wouldn't leave him in on his first night, he's better to keep walking.

Ets, and don't forget, gelding doesn't have an immediate effect and his coltish ways will probably continue for a good few weeks after the op.

Alec.

 

[EQUIDAE]

I wouldn't have him in at all for 7-10 days - the swelling just overnight can be quite frightening. It also can't be comfortable for them, also mine that wasn't (Accidentally) stabled healed much quicker that the poor boy who needed a night in.

 

[Mariposa]

Mariposa, personally I wouldn't have him in on the first night, or any night until the swelling goes down. I understand that he's making a nuisance of himself, and he must now be coming up to 12 months old. Have they not been weaned yet? If he's still on his mare, how will he cope with being separated and put in to a school?

I'm reading between the lines and may well have it arse about face, but if the foals are still on their mares, then I suspect that I'd wean them (or at least him) first, and I certainly wouldn't leave him in on his first night, he's better to keep walking.

Ets, and don't forget, gelding doesn't have an immediate effect and his coltish ways will probably continue for a good few weeks after the op.

Alec.

Ah no - he won't be on his own, he's still on the mare. We wouldn't leave him on his own, that would be asking for trouble! He's only coming up to 7 months now so ideally happy to leave both with the mares a little longer as once he's cut there's no mad rush to wean them then. The mares are both looking great now, and both foals are growing like weeds, so going to just play it be ear and look to send the mares away a little later in the spring.

 

[Alec Swan]

I've never had a colt gelded whilst he's on the mare, no particular reason, it just hasn't happened! I wonder what the experiences of others may be. Do you have the facilities to wean both foals so that they're out of sight and sound of the mares?

Another point to consider, when we geld at such a young age, there's always the very real risk that the growth rate will rocket and beyond the expected height. It's the main reason why 15-2 mares put to 16 hand stallions produce youngsters of well over 17 hands. It may be worth considering.

Also, even if he's becoming a bit coltish with the mares, they'll almost certainly put him in his place, and though the filly may be the one to get the brunt of his laddish behaviour, it would be highly unlikely that the mares will injure him.

I really would wean him before he's cut, even to the point of having a neighbour take him in if you don't have the facilities, and then geld him at that time. 6(?) weeks away, and he can come home. If you geld him whilst he's still on the mare, AND you bring him in at night, I really would worry that you may face serious problems. Gelding, even when done under sedative rather than a GA has the potentially to be a risky process.

Alec.

Ets, the above are just my opinions and concerns and probably of little value!

 

[EQUIDAE]

Just to give more info on how it is done at home - they sedate and then inject with local anaesthetic. They nick the skin, drop the ball and clamp the tube and blood vessels. They hold it there for 3 minutes to seal the vessels so there is no blood, then finally cut. They leave the skin open to let it drain and it knits over a few days.

 

[Mariposa]

Well I've got to the bottom of why I'm being pushed to send him away. The problem lies in the fact the last colt we got cut at home ( many years ago now ...he's a teenager now) and he suffered a haemorrhage. He was rushed to hospital and saved, but I think there's underlying anxiety from that ( and rightly so, it must have been very scary to almost lose him) but I'm talking to the surgeon who did a fantastic job on the filly's hernia and if she's happy to come and do it at home, it's been agreed we'll just do it at home, albeit with the lorry at the ready just in case.

We've bred several foals over the years and this is only our second colt, fillies are way easier


Edit - and Alec, we usually send our mares away for weaning, out of sight and earshot. They'll be off to board at a TB stud near us for 6-8 weeks before returning home.

 

[Lgd]

I had my gelding cut at just over 6 months old while he was still on his Mum. I took him to the vet practice with Mum, he was done under standing sedation. Stayed for about 90 minutes to come round and be sure there was no haemorrhage. Back on the box and home. He was weaned once the wounds were healed. Think it was about £135 plus the diesel. Worked out cheaper than the vet travelling to me as no call out fee/travelling.

My vet did try and talk me out of cutting him as he thought he was a fantastic stallion prospect. Nope, already got one, don't need another was the reply

 

[SueS]

Just to give more info on how it is done at home - they sedate and then inject with local anaesthetic. They nick the skin, drop the ball and clamp the tube and blood vessels. They hold it there for 3 minutes to seal the vessels so there is no blood, then finally cut. They leave the skin open to let it drain and it knits over a few days.

This is exactly the way my pony was gelded today. The vet came this morning and examined the field and was happy to geld him as there is very little mud. It went smoothly and after the sedation my pony was back grazing, I have checked him 5 times today since his op and he does not seem bothered by it at all. I have never seen a castration before and that crunching noise will stay with me for a while.